Greystone Public House, one of Harrisburg’s newest dining establishments, has been wowing guests for several months now with its sophisticated yet approachable menu, which offers a modern twist on seasonal ingredients. But the restaurant also serves as a reminder of Harrisburg’s place in history.
The original stone building at the site was constructed by Godfrey Fritchey, one of Harrisburg’s earliest settlers. Born in 1755 in Germany, Godfrey traveled with a companion to America in 1783, fully intending to return home. He never did.
Instead, Cupid’s arrow struck, and on July 24, 1787, Godfrey married Dorothy Bucher. In 1789, he purchased 25 acres of land on the Greystone site from Andrew Berryhill, the property’s original owner. By 1798, Godfrey had built the two-story fieldstone structure, designed to resemble his former home in Bavaria, that is now Greystone Public House. The building, which became known in the early community of settlers as the Fritchey Mansion, was home to Godfrey, Dorothy and their 13 children.
